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Solar, wind power unlikely to become alternative to atomic energy - expert

Power Engineering -- Atomic energy is unavoidable if humanity wants to rid of CO2 emissions and ensure sustainable energy supply. Hydropower and biofuel may supplement atomic energy, while solar and wind power can hardly be an option, Global Energy Award Committee member, President of the Science Council for Global Initiatives Tom Blees said.

Germany and Denmark have spent more than 100 billion euros on solar and wind energy projects, which have catastrophic results from the economic point of view, he said. The experiment displayed that solar and wind energy were unable as yet to provide humanity with power, but it would take time to convince Germany and Denmark of that, he added.

Blees noted that the German intention to close down nuclear power plants and to build gas and coal plants instead would increase

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Submitted May 21, 2012 By: angel4me

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,609 Points:1,608,545 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 24, 2012 5:49:17 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse goldrose: every Megawatt that is produced w/ non-fossil, non-noo-kay-luh fuel sources helps. Storage is still a problem, but in areas that have lots of wind, for example, you can have a lot more reliance on that source all day and all night long.
rjhenn Champion Author Des Moines Posts:22,430 Points:2,228,500 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 23, 2012 9:06:14 PM Ignore rjhenn Report Abuse goldrose1 - "Not yet time to depend on solar and wind. They are variable. Research is still developing economical ways to store it for postponed use." Not that difficult. You use any excess to generate hydrogen, and use the hydrogen when there's no wind or sun.
goldrose1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:10,931 Points:1,923,530 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: May 23, 2012 4:57:54 PM Ignore goldrose1 Report Abuse Not yet time to depend on solar and wind. They are variable. Research is still developing economical ways to store it for postponed use. Right now solar makes some sense. It is hottest during times when sun shines and that is when solar power is produced, so that matches matches needs for cooling. However, 1. In cooler months it doesn't line up. Sunny times is when less heat is needed for homes and businesses. 2. Many energy hog businesses run 24/7 so solar doesn't match many hours that they consume. Some day ...
FunMyster All-Star Author Indiana Posts:907 Points:73,215 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 10:19:28 PM Ignore FunMyster Report Abuse ok
robaloma Champion Author Houston Posts:2,591 Points:690,425 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 8:08:03 PM Ignore robaloma Report Abuse maybe?
sydb7 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,552 Points:1,918,780 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 1:47:06 PM Ignore sydb7 Report Abuse one point of view, not necessarily true!
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:2,993 Points:596,760 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 1:28:51 PM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse Thank you for posting.
Blismo Champion Author Arizona Posts:2,134 Points:403,260 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 8:05:01 AM Ignore Blismo Report Abuse ok
nb52 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:7,775 Points:1,545,875 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 6:28:32 AM Ignore nb52 Report Abuse Thank you Denmark and Germany!
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:32,975 Points:2,344,535 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 3:08:01 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Solar and Wind have been producing so much renewable energy, they have been told to cut back with electrical production. Some wind farms have been abandoned because of inadequate income and they are too expensive to maintain. Rusting in Hawaii! For Nuclear power to be safe and reliable, a very careful site selection is required to identify the earthquake and tsunami hazards. How often do you hear of nuclear accidents with aircraft carriers, submarines or other nuclear powered ships. The military can run safe nuclear reactors and so can certain states. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. Consider using other forms of less expensive transportation to lower your cost, if possible! The price of fuel at the pump is too high! 12/22/2012!
TIGERPAW46 Champion Author Florida Posts:7,120 Points:1,353,810 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 1:33:19 AM Ignore TIGERPAW46 Report Abuse Europe made the mistake around 2 winters ago & many people died from the cold. They shut down their coal plants for solar & wind Then when a hard cold spell hit they couldn't supply enough heat. It took too long to try & get the coal plants back operational so people died. Nothing wrong with the alternate energy sources but they still need to be supplements otherwise too expensive and too dependent on the wind or clouds & rain etc. Storage of the Energy when the sun shines or the wind blows is too costly & difficult with storage containers. ie Batteries or capacitors or other materials.
LostToo Champion Author Illinois Posts:4,392 Points:975,315 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:24:59 AM Ignore LostToo Report Abuse There you go.... Closing down wind and solar in favor of Coal and Gas. Now they are makeing sense in Europe.
rx7racerca Champion Author Calgary Posts:4,192 Points:1,111,895 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:24:51 AM Ignore rx7racerca Report Abuse It's always been a given solar and wind can be part, but not all of the power grid needs - there has to be some kind of baseline supply from atomic, hydro, and/or fossil fuel.
cmsense Champion Author Columbus Posts:1,358 Points:165,345 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:22:52 AM Ignore cmsense Report Abuse No more subsidies for PIG OIL.
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,463 Points:661,225 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:22:11 AM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse No more subsidies for solar and wind.
jkpsr Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,074 Points:1,100,930 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:20:50 AM Ignore jkpsr Report Abuse Nukes can be engineered to be very safe.
speedbump1250 Rookie Author Louisville Posts:30 Points:6,175 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:20:15 AM Ignore speedbump1250 Report Abuse europe is nuts
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:5,609 Points:800,300 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:19:44 AM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse Back to nuclear to provide energy (relatively clean).
DavoIL All-Star Author Chicago Posts:806 Points:937,505 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:18:31 AM Ignore DavoIL Report Abuse this is a disappointment that gas buddy should even post this story! First there's no author's name attached to it, and it smacks of outright anti-green propaganda with GE's logo & advertising all over it( guess what corporation designs & builds nuclear power plants). The fact is, solar energy has been extremely successful in Germany,which has a cloudy climate for much of the year.And wind powered energy has been very successful in the state of Texas. This has allowed the postponement of the construction of nuclear power plants at both locations because of such successful out comes. Nuclear energy is very risky and costly to the public. Let's not forget about the recent nuclear power plant disaster in Japan. Nuclear energy is so risky that no insurance corporation will insure them in the U.S., the insurance premiums most be financed by the taxpayers. I really wish that nuclear energy would work as a viable energy option, but it is just to expensive and risky for us to use. Plutonium is the most toxic substance known to man, and take tens of thousands of years to break down to a safe level.
miser709 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,268 Points:1,069,050 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:16:37 AM Ignore miser709 Report Abuse Expert...right.
regout Champion Author Quebec Posts:2,950 Points:831,730 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:13:17 AM Ignore regout Report Abuse One of these days...
chicoCA Champion Author California Posts:1,970 Points:1,772,580 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:12:12 AM Ignore chicoCA Report Abuse okay
69Bonne Champion Author Gary Posts:1,145 Points:472,175 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:11:45 AM Ignore 69Bonne Report Abuse It's part of a strategy and not the all around solution.
otherdave Champion Author Indiana Posts:3,388 Points:1,267,435 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:10:47 AM Ignore otherdave Report Abuse But the tree hugging greenies won't stand for atomic!
joel27nc Champion Author Raleigh Posts:10,532 Points:1,857,395 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:09:11 AM Ignore joel27nc Report Abuse Atomic is always there; no sun or wind, no power.
Ray_10589 Champion Author New York Posts:4,941 Points:1,182,010 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:08:54 AM Ignore Ray_10589 Report Abuse not a bad idea ...
Colts13 Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,571 Points:547,235 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:08:50 AM Ignore Colts13 Report Abuse Ok.
1fulltank Champion Author Buffalo Posts:7,898 Points:1,543,335 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:08:35 AM Ignore 1fulltank Report Abuse Solar has a much better chance than wind.
kgbellman Champion Author Ann Arbor Posts:2,703 Points:730,640 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:07:11 AM Ignore kgbellman Report Abuse Not sure what's wrong with it over atomic considering side affects
Bigwaynef Champion Author South Carolina Posts:11,465 Points:2,079,785 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:05:45 AM Ignore Bigwaynef Report Abuse Kind of power I need instead of gas, solar wind, OK how many miles to a gallon of solar win???
Bleeder Champion Author Virginia Posts:8,038 Points:1,699,625 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:05:00 AM Ignore Bleeder Report Abuse They are all a part of our strategy to reduce our foreign oil dependency.
USCCRN Sophomore Author Long Island Posts:145 Points:104,240 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:03:46 AM Ignore USCCRN Report Abuse Alternative energy sources help cut down on foreign energy dependence, help the environment and help the economy.
jem069 Champion Author Detroit Posts:2,533 Points:686,105 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:02:50 AM Ignore jem069 Report Abuse Ok
FreeeBee Veteran Author Atlanta Posts:343 Points:223,845 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: May 22, 2012 12:01:47 AM Ignore FreeeBee Report Abuse It can not become alternative but it can help
oldiesman Champion Author New York Posts:6,422 Points:2,192,985 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:58:07 PM Ignore oldiesman Report Abuse Never happen?
TIGERPAW46 Champion Author Florida Posts:7,120 Points:1,353,810 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:57:02 PM Ignore TIGERPAW46 Report Abuse Nuclear is the most dangerous source we use, worst than fossil fuel if anything goes wrong. In addition we have Nuclear waste stored all over the world. We can 't keep increasing that waste either since it take up to a million years to decay to non significant levels. "The burnt fuels are thorium with reactor-grade plutonium (RGPu), thorium with weapons-grade plutonium (WGPu) and Mixed Oxide fuel (MOX). For RGPu and WGPu, the initial amount of U-233 and its decay around 1 million years" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_waste#Fuel_composition_and_long_term_radioactivity
Holly123 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:3,192 Points:789,010 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:56:05 PM Ignore Holly123 Report Abuse We'll see what happens ....
SparkieMi Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:3,256 Points:586,960 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:54:04 PM Ignore SparkieMi Report Abuse Time will tell....
kgbellman Champion Author Ann Arbor Posts:2,703 Points:730,640 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:53:09 PM Ignore kgbellman Report Abuse Not sure what's wrong with it over atomic considering side affects
tarheelcoastie Champion Author Greensboro Posts:5,191 Points:1,110,180 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:52:49 PM Ignore tarheelcoastie Report Abuse Yep!
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,847 Points:1,612,025 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:47:42 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse Wind power is indeed a snare and delusion in most places; however, there is 1000x more energy from the sun striking the earth than is needed to power all of mankind. We must trap and utilize only a tiny fraction of it. Costs are falling. We need solar collectors on every roof.
Mermaan Champion Author Boston Posts:1,572 Points:421,235 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:45:24 PM Ignore Mermaan Report Abuse Love wind and hydro
ItsMorph Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:33,422 Points:3,184,205 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:43:20 PM Ignore ItsMorph Report Abuse Well, I'd keep a few nuclear plants around rather than constant use of coal. Hydro is more preferable, however.
pinkelefant Champion Author Sacramento Posts:19,581 Points:2,659,630 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:41:28 PM Ignore pinkelefant Report Abuse I like wind. We have enough here in Sacramento with our Brown governor.
gd83goldwinger Champion Author South Bend Posts:1,428 Points:503,480 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:41:11 PM Ignore gd83goldwinger Report Abuse Ok.
Saturn93 Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:7,292 Points:1,640,885 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:38:58 PM Ignore Saturn93 Report Abuse Global energy needs will only be met through the development of all available technologies (including nuclear), used appropriately for each area.
USAv8tor Veteran Author Long Island Posts:348 Points:138,665 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:38:36 PM Ignore USAv8tor Report Abuse If every home owner and commercial business implemented solar power because of incentives and subsidies from the government, we could lower our dependency on foreign energy sources, reduce pollution and help the economy.
Taurus1 Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,125 Points:1,672,750 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:34:04 PM Ignore Taurus1 Report Abuse ok
mfeldstein Champion Author Ottawa Posts:8,161 Points:1,928,430 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:31:45 PM Ignore mfeldstein Report Abuse I agree. Let's get smart and put $100 billion to research to absolutely ensure the safety of nuclear power stations and the security of spent fuel disposal.
aquarinut Champion Author British Columbia Posts:1,628 Points:436,105 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: May 21, 2012 11:24:29 PM Ignore aquarinut Report Abuse In the mean time.... obama and his cronies are still throwing billions towards the solar and wind "alternative way to make friends rich" scheme. November 2012!!!! NOBAMA!!!